Thread: Your thoughts and ideas please on dust collection for my new workshop?

the first thing I'd advise is to cut at least one, if not both of those benches in half to 600 wide, taking up way too much room, which won't be used. 900 wide x about 1800 long is plenty for an island style bench,to walk around, and 600 wide for ones against the walls.
BobL will be along when he wakes up, he's in Perth so 3 hours late. He is the guru with dust collectors. Good luck with it.

Congrats on the purchase. I reckon that will be a good combo.

Agree those benches are too deep. 900 max. If you intend mounting a drop saw on one of the benches allow enough space behind for a dust collection chute (600 isn't enough). I didn't, and I regret it every time I use the saw.

For handheld routers and sanders you really need a shop vac style dust extractor. I have the Festool one, but you don't need to spend that much. I believe Fien one is very good.

Given the DC is located outside and it only has a 12" impeller I would not recommend using this cyclone on this DC as the cyclone will reduce the air flow so that there will be too much fine dust left behind in the shed. The DC filters will need to be cleaned more often but this is better than trying to heard the uncollected fine dust left behind in the shed. Cyclones are best left to DCs with larger impellers that can take a flow hit and still have enough grunt left behind to collect the fine dust at source.

The funds spent on the cyclone could perhaps be directed towards a reticulated vacuum system (vC slo located outside) using 50 mm PVC ducting.

The DC also appears to be located too close to the shed doors. Externally located DCs should be located behind the shed wall opposite the wall where the major/largest opening to the shed is located. If this is not possible then it should be as far away from the major/largest opening.

To retain the cyclone, another option to managing fine dust would be to install exhaust fans in the back wall of the shed to generate a target of 20 room air changes per hour. Given that the shed is not that big this should not be too large an ask.

Originally Posted by BobL

Given the DC is located outside and it only has a 12" impeller I would not recommend using this cyclone on this DC as the cyclone will reduce the air flow ... Cyclones are best left to DCs with larger impellers that can take a flow hit and still have enough grunt left behind to collect the fine dust at source.

We need this as a banner across the forum, so much money would be saved or better spent

The loss of flow from the cyclone can be offset by removing the filter bags if that's an option (i.e. assuming the neighbours aren't too close). Having recently fitted a cyclone to my 2HP DE there's no way I'd go back to being without one.

I say keep the cyclone and do everything you can to reduce the losses elsewhere in the system and add exhaust fans as Bob suggested.

Originally Posted by riverbuilder

the first thing I'd advise is to cut at least one, if not both of those benches in half to 600 wide, taking up way too much room, which won't be used. 900 wide x about 1800 long is plenty for an island style bench,to walk around, and 600 wide for ones against the walls.
BobL will be along when he wakes up, he's in Perth so 3 hours late. He is the guru with dust collectors. Good luck with it.

Good point - they are 1200mm because that is the width of the coolroom panel and I'm going to use that for the bench tops, will cut the smaller one back to 600 or maybe 750 to match the lathe, the big one will need to stay at 1200mm though as being a person that works with epoxy every day doing carbon fibre work I am planning on doing some epoxy river tables so will need the big bench for those.

Originally Posted by jack620

Congrats on the purchase. I reckon that will be a good combo.

Agree those benches are too deep. 900 max. If you intend mounting a drop saw on one of the benches allow enough space behind for a dust collection chute (600 isn't enough). I didn't, and I regret it every time I use the saw.

For handheld routers and sanders you really need a shop vac style dust extractor. I have the Festool one, but you don't need to spend that much. I believe Fien one is very good.

I've got a big Evolution Rage 3 compound mitre saw that makes a fair old mess - it will go on the smaller bench - will cut the bench down in size to suit.

Originally Posted by jack620

The loss of flow from the cyclone can be offset by removing the filter bags if that's an option (i.e. assuming the neighbours aren't too close). Having recently fitted a cyclone to my 2HP DE there's no way I'd go back to being without one.

I say keep the cyclone and do everything you can to reduce the losses elsewhere in the system and add exhaust fans as Bob suggested.

I guess the best way would be to try it with and without the cyclone and see which way gives the best results. Removing the filter bags isn't an option the coolroom panel woodworking workshop and dust collector is all inside a building, for the same reason the exhaust fan idea is a no no.

Originally Posted by BobL

Given the DC is located outside and it only has a 12" impeller I would not recommend using this cyclone on this DC as the cyclone will reduce the air flow so that there will be too much fine dust left behind in the shed. The DC filters will need to be cleaned more often but this is better than trying to heard the uncollected fine dust left behind in the shed. Cyclones are best left to DCs with larger impellers that can take a flow hit and still have enough grunt left behind to collect the fine dust at source.

The funds spent on the cyclone could perhaps be directed towards a reticulated vacuum system (vC slo located outside) using 50 mm PVC ducting.

The DC also appears to be located too close to the shed doors. Externally located DCs should be located behind the shed wall opposite the wall where the major/largest opening to the shed is located. If this is not possible then it should be as far away from the major/largest opening.

To retain the cyclone, another option to managing fine dust would be to install exhaust fans in the back wall of the shed to generate a target of 20 room air changes per hour. Given that the shed is not that big this should not be too large an ask.

OK sounds like some more thinking needed and possibly some experimentation. I can't relocate the dust collection anywhere else unfortunately as the coolroom panel woodworking workshop and the dust collection are all located inside a bigger workshop and there is no room to put them outside (or locate them anywhere else). For the same reason I can't put exhaust fans in as that will just blow the dust into the main workshop - the woodworking workshop is sealed up pretty tightly so that the dust extraction will create a slight negative pressure within the room to contain the dust. I am planning on putting a vacuum wand thingy in there too.

I haven't opened the boxes yet, but I suspect that the inlet on both the cyclone and the dust collector are 6 inch, the dust collector has a 3x 4" attachment and the cyclone has a 2x 4" attachment - would you recommend running multiple 4" from the shed or removing the x4" adaptors and running six inch across and then down to 4" etc as appropriate for each machine?

I would throw the cyclone away but keep the bucket then make my own.

Hafco W318 dust extractor.

Originally Posted by RSD

would you recommend running multiple 4" from the shed or removing the x4" adaptors and running six inch across and then down to 4" etc as appropriate for each machine?

6" as far as you possibly can.

Originally Posted by RSD

I can't put exhaust fans in as that will just blow the dust into the main workshop

Where's the workshop?

the woodworking workshop is sealed up pretty tightly so that the dust extraction will create a slight negative pressure within the room to contain the dust.

If the shed is air tight and the door is sealed/closed that will stymie the air flow through and dust collection by the DC. If the door is open, it means the open door way will drag the fine dust exiting the DC straight back into the shed. Things could be improved by enclosing the DC and running a 300 mm duct along the "Fixed stuff that can be moved" to SA FAR away from the shed.

I haven't opened the boxes yet, but I suspect that the inlet on both the cyclone and the dust collector are 6 inch, the dust collector has a 3x 4" attachment and the cyclone has a 2x 4" attachment - would you recommend running multiple 4" from the shed or removing the x4" adaptors and running six inch across and then down to 4" etc as appropriate for each machine?

All the trunk lines and anything connecting medium/large machines (especially a lathe) should all be 6" and only cases I would use 4" ducting is for multiple hoods around a bandsaw, on a TS OH blade guard, on a drill press, on a small machine like a small sander. For a small shed like yours running 6" to everything makes sense and the adapting down to 4" for small gear is really worth it.

Originally Posted by BobL

Where's the workshop?

What the drawing didn't show is that the woodworking workshop is inside the main workshop - built the woodwork shop from coolroom panel in there.

If the shed is air tight and the door is sealed/closed that will stymie the air flow through and dust collection by the DC. If the door is open, it means the open door way will drag the fine dust exiting the DC straight back into the shed. Things could be improved by enclosing the DC and running a 300 mm duct along the "Fixed stuff that can be moved" to SA FAR away from the shed.

Hmm OK - I can vary the airflow into the shed by adjusting the vent that controls the inward airflow. Will there be much dust coming out of the dust collector? I have the pleated cartridges rather than the floppy felt bags.

All the trunk lines and anything connecting medium/large machines (especially a lathe) should all be 6" and only cases I would use 4" ducting is for multiple hoods around a bandsaw, on a TS OH blade guard, on a drill press, on a small machine like a small sander. For a small shed like yours running 6" to everything makes sense and the adapting down to 4" for small gear is really worth it.

OK Cheers. For the 6" use DWV or Stormwater pipe?

I have thought of one way that I can put the dust collector outside but it is going to be a mongrel to do - it would have to go over the top of another 8 metre long internal workshop then through a 90 vertically up 1 metre then 90 left for two metres over a water tank and then down again into an area where we can build a shed to put the dust collector in - I'm not sure if it is worth the hassle to get it outside?

Originally Posted by RSD

What the drawing didn't show is that the woodworking workshop is inside the main workshop - built the woodwork shop from coolroom panel in there.

It would be useful to see a drawing of the whole thing.

Hmm OK - I can vary the airflow into the shed by adjusting the vent that controls the inward airflow. Will there be much dust coming out of the dust collector? I have the pleated cartridges rather than the floppy felt bags.

Although a very small amount will get through filters the dust will be more of a problem if the DC leaks (problem is most do) and it's a still day otherwise even a light breeze will draw it away.
I see you are relatively near the coast - how are the sea breezes?

OK Cheers. For the 6" use DWV or Stormwater pipe?

Sounds like you need to read the ducting sticky?

I have thought of one way that I can put the dust collector outside but it is going to be a mongrel to do - it would have to go over the top of another 8 metre long internal workshop then through a 90 vertically up 1 metre then 90 left for two metres over a water tank and then down again into an area where we can build a shed to put the dust collector in - I'm not sure if it is worth the hassle to get it outside?

Probably not worth it.

Originally Posted by RSD

I have thought of one way that I can put the dust collector outside but it is going to be a mongrel to do

if you have pleated filters I wouldn’t bother putting it outside.

I just noticed you’re in Seaford. I grew up there and I live not far away now. One big advantage of not having your DE outside is you won’t be sucking away any heated air in winter.